PLEASE ACCEPT THIS FREE GIFT

Thanks for taking a look at the MASTERS of ArchiCAD SUMMIT.

We'd like to share with you a special gift: an awesome training presented by Timothy Ball RIBA (one of our Summit presenters), that will help you take better advantage of the power of ArchiCAD. Attendees at this session raved about Tim Ball's work and what they learned. One architect commented: "This is like going to ArchiCAD graduate school!"

Grab this special recording of ArchiCAD master Tim Ball's 1 hour and 45 minute training on Advanced 3D Model Detailing to members of Eric Bobrow’s Best Practices Course in June 2014.

You’ll see how Tim details his model in 3D quickly and efficiently with complex profiles, and his sections and elevations look virtually perfect without adding any 2D linework.

Fill in this form - we'll email you a link for instant access to the video!

LIVE ONLINE CONFERENCE - February 5 & 6REGISTER NOW to attend live PLUS
Get full access to session recordings

Attention ArchiCAD Users:

Do you put in long hours getting your work done, while only using part of ArchiCAD's power?
Learn how to use more of the incredible time saving features LOCKED INSIDE ArchiCAD.
Discover how you can do BETTER DESIGN and run your projects more efficiently, leaving your clients smiling.
It's time to work SMARTER rather than harder.

Grand Masters of ArchiCAD Share Their Secrets

Proven ArchiCAD Strategies that will Turbo-Charge Your Practice

Watch the Summit Presentations Live February 5 & 6
and/or Catch the Video Recordings Later to:

Learn how BIMx Docs and a simple change to pen sets enable Roderick Anderson to cut his site visits in half

See exactly how Tim Ball uses Complex Profiles to model details in 3D quickly so your sections and details require no cleanup

Set up Cinerender inside ArchiCAD the way Andreas Lettner does to quickly and easily get awesome renderings

For the first time ever...
ArchiCAD masters from around the world meet in an online conference

Sharing with you their passion for ArchiCAD, their pioneering insights & the wisdom of their experience.

What is the MASTERS of ArchiCAD SUMMIT?

The summit is a LIVE two day online conference on February 5 & 6, 2015, which will be broadcast via GoToWebinar and also recorded for permanent reference.

Each Master will give a 60 minute presentation showing some of their projects and discussing how they approach their work in ArchiCAD. This is not just "show and tell" - every session will have actionable training components in which the presenter shares tips and tricks, and teaches you methods and strategies that you can use in your office.

Sessions will start every 90 minutes between 9 am and 6 pm PST (California time = GMT - 8). You may attend all of the sessions LIVE, or as many as you wish and have time for. When you watch the live sessions in your web browser, you'll be able to ask questions of the presenter and make comments through the chat box.

It's going to be a very exciting, community-building event, with hundreds of ArchiCAD users from around the world tuning in!

What if I can't fit this into my schedule?

Each session will be recorded and made available to registrants in a private password-protected area of this website.

Whether or not you attend the live sessions, you'll have permanent access to these presentations, so you can get maximum benefit of the training. You'll want to refer to many of these videos more than once as you continue your journey towards your own ArchiCAD mastery.

The MASTERS of ArchiCAD SUMMIT will be a permanent addition to your ArchiCAD reference library that you'll find of great value for years to come.

The ArchiCAD Event of the Year

Join with ArchiCAD users around the world and learn from experts who work with ArchiCAD daily and PUSH the limits of our favorite architectural software.

These masters are architects and designers just like you. They'll show some of their actual projects and tell you exactly how they get so much work done, so you can get a big boost in your capabilities. Take a peek inside the mind-set, the office standards and practices of these veterans who force ArchiCAD to deliver the goods.

After you watch these presentations, you'll be inspired AND you'll have practical tips, tools and methods you can bring back to the office to transform your workflow and your practice.

REGISTER NOW to watch the sessions February 5 & 6 LIVE in your web browser and ask questions of the presenters. Attend as many sessions as you have time for (all day if you like), coming and going as you wish. All registrants (whether you attend the live sessions or not) will have permanent access to the session recordings.

Learn From Industry Experts

We've put together the smartest power-users to share their skills, tips and tricks for getting the most out of ArchiCAD.

Timothy Ball, RIBA - jhd Architects, Kent UK

Timothy Ball runs JHD Architects which is one of very few UK practices capable of achieving BIM level 2. ArchiCAD is used on all our projects which are mainly high-end private residential, with some commercial work.

Tim has been using ArchiCAD since version 4.5 and has become an expert in the use of ArchiCAD to create very high quality fully coordinated working drawings and specifications. He has spoken at the ArchiCAD Summer School, The Building Centre and at the RIBA, and has authored a chapter for the RIBA’s book “BIM in Small Practices: Illustrated Case Studies."

Roderick Anderson is the owner and president of SARCO Architects, a Costa Rican architectural design firm founded in 1972. Passionate about architecture and seeking the creation of enjoyable and life-improving spaces through design. Always in pursuit of personal and professional improvement, extremely studious and always researching new and interesting ways of integrating technology into architecture and the services we provide our clients. Strongly focused into producing environmentally responsible architecture and especially seeking ways to optimize and reduce the energy needs of new upcoming designs.

Roderick’s design talent has been internationally recognised and projects by SARCO Architects have now been multiple recipients of awards by the International Property Awards in London, England.

Benedict Newell Wallbank, RIBA - SmartBIM Solutions - London UK

With over 28 years experience in the construction Industry, Ben brings a wealth of knowledge to SmartBIM Solutions. He represents Graphisoft UK at the BIM Technologies Alliance and Building Smart UK’s Technical Group.

In his early career Ben was a practicing architect running his own practice for thirteen years. He has been involved in implementing BIM processes and technologies since 1991. In more recent years as a company director, he worked with major clients including the Prudential, Carlyle Group, Bovis Lend Lease and ISG.

In 2005, Ben joined John Robertson Architects where he was the Director who led the transition of the practice to collaborative BIM and was personally responsible for projects with £187m contract value.

Since 2010 Ben has been working with consultants, contractors and client bodies advising on management, organisation, workflow and business process associated with BIM deployment.

Ben is an internationally renowned expert in the deployment of BIM processes across a wide range of construction stakeholders. He is a much sought after lecturer and tutor of BIM in China, Brazil, Europe and in the UK and has published papers through The RIBA Journal, Architecture Ireland and Building Design. Currently Ben lectures on BIM in the Masters Degree courses at Liverpool, Middlesex, Salford and Huddersfield Universities in the UK and is an occasional design tutor at Nottingham University on the Tall Buildings course.

Gary Lawes, Jagged Edge Design Ltd, Bristol UK

I run a small Architectural practice and work on the smallest of projects. The latter was planned, to target a market that few are interested in and to build a strong reputation in that sector.

To maximise profitability in any business, requires every business process to be finely tuned, this is especially so when working on smaller projects. For my CAD/BIM product I chose ArchiCAD. I had worked with all of the major rival products as reseller and distributor, and as such I knew ArchiCAD had the potential to outperform them all, it would however need a great deal of customisation to make it suitable for small domestic projects.

I set out a plan to carry out two hours of ArchiCAD development on every one of my projects, the majority of that time spent developing GDL objects. Now 13 years later I have a very powerful library of high performance objects.

Every object is designed to support the design process, to provide maximum flexibility, to deliver the best looking documents possible and to produce the highest quality of documentation, all as rapidly and easily as possible.

Andreas Lettner, le_ander, Innsbruck Austria

Andreas Lettner is co-founder of Maaars Architekts, Innsbruck Austria. He has been a lecturer for ArchiCAD since 1996.

He is known as a specialist for BIM authoring and implementation, and has presented lectures and seminars at at the University of Nottingham, Art School Liverpool, University of Cardiff, University Lagos, University Innsbruck, Kufstein, Spittal/Drau, Zagreb, Rijeka, Novi Sad, Vienna.

Erika Epstein, ERE Architecture, Massachusetts USA

After working for several large firms, Erika opened her own in Los Angeles. Since purchasing ArchiCAD v.5 in the mid-1990s She developed an atypical Architectural practice. Utilizing the BIM software enabled to her work both traditionally and with other firms in-person and in teams over the web. One team, food for thot, is a web-based competition team which has won multiple prizes for their entries in numerous BIM Storms.

Her depth of knowledge of ArchiCAD led to teaching ArchiCAD and the integration of BIM for other firms. All together, this continues to realize Erika's personal goal of working on a variety of projects in the field of Architecture.

Ultimately Erika was asked to write a book “Implementing successful Building Information Modeling' which was published in 2012. Erika continues to design her own buildings, work in teams, teach ArchiCAD, and be a BIM consultant for other firms. Always a new opportunity...

In the past 15 years of my Architectural carrier I have worked for small medium and large architectural design practises in many different countries. My portfolio covers a variety of project types ranging from industrial sheds through 5 star hotels, schools, custodial buildings, multi unit residential projects and office complexes.

All along the way I have always been a perfectionist and never for a moment lost passion for better, smarter more efficient design, documentation or construction. Thinking outside the box is in my veins. In fact, I can’t be forced inside any box easily.

I started using ArchiCAD at version 4.5, and despite all my efforts, I was unable to find any design tool to match it, so I keep on using ArchiCAD and stretch it to its limits in order to give me the desired outcome.

If I was in search for a motto, I would go back to Goethe’s all-time best: “Architecture is like frozen music.” That says it all. There is rhythm and style, passion and love in both architecture and music, yet both can be transferred through an international language onto a sheet of paper…

Eric Bobrow, San Rafael California USA

Eric Bobrow draws on his 25 years of experience with ArchiCAD as a trainer, consultant and award-winning reseller to bring depth, nuance and clarity to his presentations.

He teaches the most effective ways to get things done, taking greatest advantage of ArchiCAD's principles and philosphy. His classic 7 Keys to Best Practices for ArchiCAD essay and training video is a ground-breaking treatise that codifies the essential approach and integrates the methods that make an ArchiCAD user highly successful.

A natural showman, Bobrow delights in demonstrating cool tricks and supremely practical methods that manage everyday challenges efficiently as well as handling exotic situations and design contexts. When asked "how do you do this" he'll routinely structure an answer that is accessible to beginners while revealing insights that can delight and inspire veteran users.

Djordje Grujic, City Diamond Contracting, Dubai UAE

For the last decade, Djordje is the Design Manager of City Diamond Contracting in Dubai, applying ArchiCAD to the industrial and high end residential turnkey projects. He has Masters in Architectural Engineering from the Faculty of Architecture, Belgrade University, Serbia. He has worked in seven countries on three continents, for almost a quarter of a century.

For most of his professional career, his main tools of the trade were the computer systems, starting with CAD in 1989, and discovering the power of the Virtual Building - today better known as BIM - in 1995 with ArchiCAD 4.55.

You might have known him as the Moderator of ArchiCAD Talk from 2000 to 2009, trainer, presenter and ArchiCAD and BIM evangelist online, in ex-Yugoslavia and the Middle East. You can safely say that he has BIM there, and done that.

Shawn B. Hopkins is a Professional Architect with a passion for streamlining the architectural process through the use of software and systems. Through the ownership of LARGEarchitecture.cc since 2005, he has experience in the commercial, retail, residential and place of worship sectors.

His recent passion is to ensure that a sustainable BIM system is implemented in the LARGEarchitecture office to ensure the competitive edge.

Andrew Passacantando, Passacantando Architects, Morristown NJ USA

Andrew Passacantando founded his firm in 1998, and started working with ArchiCAD 6.0 shortly afterwards. Focusing on the high-end traditional residential market, Andrew has a passion for creating well designed architectural solutions that are both innovative and respectful of tradition and craft.

Andrew won an Historic Preservation award for a Chatham NJ renovation, received an AIA Gold Medal in 2011, and has been featured in numerous articles and publications. He was the featured speaker at a recent NYC ArchiCAD User Group, in which he showed a beautiful and complex 15,000 square foot custom home, modeled in great detail in ArchiCAD with an accompanying BIMx model.

Andrew is proud to say that all of his sections are "live" and that the accurate 3D model makes the construction process work more smoothly, saving time and money on the job site.

Join us for the ArchiCAD Event of the Year!

This event is for you if...

You want to get the most out of ArchiCAD

You get excited when you learn how something tricky and/or time consuming can be done more easily and quickly

You know your 3D model could be taken further

You aspire to deliver higher quality documents that make construction go smoothly

You aim for continual improvement - "good enough" isn't good enough for you

ArchiCAD is a key competitive advantage that helps you win projects

If any of the above statements ring true then you need to attend the Masters of ArchiCAD Summit (or watch the session recordings)

Fill in this form to get the latest Masters of ArchiCAD Summit schedule and program info:

Summit Training Outline & Objectives

Each session will be about 60 minutes in length, plus a few minutes for introductions at the beginning and some time for questions at the end. Sessions will start every 90 minutes throughout the day, running from 9 am to 6 pm PST (California time).

The program schedule is posted on this page just before the Presenter bios (see above).

Hyper-Efficient, Detailed 3D Modeling

Speaker: Timothy Ball RIBACourse Description: Start using the full power of Archicad to detail in 3D.

Instead of drawing a detail in 2D construction detail, create a 3D complex profile and re-use it throughout the job. Sections are always correct - no patch detailing required.

You can't fake it in 3D and we all know how easy it is to draw an isolated 2D detail and find it doesn't work on site.

Cinerender Tips and Tricks

Speaker: Andreas LettnerCourse Description: Learn from an veteran Cinema 4D (and ArchiCAD) user how you can make beautiful renderings directly inside ArchiCAD with the new Cinerender engine (which is based on C4D).

Understanding the cinerender engine.

Setting up your own "renderstyle" as a part of your office standards.

Decreasing your render time by controlling the number of polygons, light setup and materials

The Data in Your Model is Priceless

Speaker: Benedict Newell Wallbank - RIBACourse Description: Ben will emphasize the growing value of sharable structured digital data and encourage you to future proof your practice by starting to understand and structure the data in your models so that it can be used by others.

Speaker: Roderick AndersonCourse Description: How ArchiCAD has helped us evolve and perfect our Design-Build practice, how BIMx Docs has changed our workflow during design, and has completely changed the way we think about a set of drawings, empowering our construction teams with amazing 3D visualization and "live plans" for on-site question resolution.

In short: we're now able to be more efficient, have much fewer errors to correct, and are taking on and winning more work!

Hacking GDL: Practical Parametric Object Making

Speaker: Gary LawesCourse Description: In simple terms GDL hacking involves modeling an object in ArchiCAD, saving it as a GDL object, and then tweaking the code to add parametric flexibility to the object. It offers an easy way to build smart objects.

During the GDL hacking session we will make two very usable GDL objects. –

1. A surface water drainage channel

This is a stretchy object made to exact manufacturers details that will provide a suitable representation in 2D, and a perfect 3D model.

2. A fascia, soffit and guttering assembly

This is again a stretchy object, but will have a little more parametric control and intelligence, this is a chance for you to dip your toe into the real power of GDL with very little effort.

At the end of the session you will have these two smart objects, fully parametrically driven, for your future projects as well as a great understanding of the power of GDL hacking as well as an introduction to the potential of GDL.

ArchiCAD Best Practices and The Ultimate Template

Speaker: Eric BobrowCourse Description: What are the key principles that guide ArchiCAD Masters (and can help you) to use the software in the most efficient way possible? How can you “go with the flow” rather than fight or struggle with ArchiCAD?

Join Eric Bobrow as he reveals the 7 Keys to Best Practices for ArchiCAD. These simple yet ultimately powerful ideas will guide you to optimize your own working process. Easy to understand, yet profoundly effective, these Best Practices form the core of Bobrow’s teaching approach and have given students incredible results, often doubling productivity while actually improving quality.

BONUS: How far can you take your ArchiCAD template? As the creator of MasterTemplate, the popular and robust ArchiCAD add-on, Eric will share tips and tricks to quickly push your own template further towards the ideal. Turn your template into a well-organized, highly customized resource and speed your work by setting up as much as possible ahead of time, with frequently used components easily at hand.

Speaker: Shawn B. HopkinsCourse Description: We simply believe that BIM is beyond a software solution. It is a paradigm shift within the building industry! A shift that will EMPOWER the architectural professions. A shift that will result in the building industry finally gaining momentum and catching up to the other industries within this INFORMATION AGE.

The result of these workflow solutions will ensure that Building and Space Designers can get back to designing and efficiently aligning information to those design decisions.

Our approach to this is simple:
1. ENGAGE
2. Ensure common standards
3. Promote efficient workflows and an understand of the accuracy and time saving these have to offer.
4. Connecting supplier data to localised geometry
5. Offer localised / customised solutions that will compliment and improve the ‘out-the-box’ BIM solution offerings

ArchiCAD Beyond Architecture

Speaker: Djordje GrujicCourse Description: Being lucky to work in design and build environments all my professional life, I use ArchiCAD to design, detail, coordinate various phases, and follow through the construction process.

This includes follow up with various authorities, steel and MEP modeling and coordination, IFC coordination and exchange, and some other works that you would not think ArchiCAD is made for ... but it is. Made for everything.

How a One Man Office Does Large Complex Projects using ArchiCAD from A to Z

Speaker: Andrew PassacantandoCourse Description: As a sole practitioner, I use ArchiCAD as an essential tool for the entire lifecycle of complex residential projects, from initial hand sketches and design development through construction drawings and final renderings and take advantage of BIMX Docs to communicate with the client and contractor.

The process starts by accurately measuring an existing structure with a hand held laser, then I input the geometry into my office template within ArchiCAD to build the model.

Using complex profiles and the morph tool, I can quickly and accurately model the existing conditions and the proposed project. The advantages of complex profiles, which are particularly useful in this rather ornate, traditional vernacular style, will be a main focus in this lecture.

The finished model acts as a platform to assist the builder throughout the entire construction process. One can easily turn on and off layers to produce PDFs for specific sub-contractors and therefore eliminate excessive data printed on CD sets and creating mistakes in the field.

Modular Design and Teamwork Strategies for Multi-Unit Projects

Speaker: Karoly HorvathCourse Description: How is it possible to significantly reduce time spent on tedious repetitive design and documentation tasks using nothing but straight out of the box ArchiCAD. The techniques showed could be beneficial for large practises working on mega projects just as well as for small one man bands.

“If you can find any pattern in the design, there are ways to get the computer multiply it for you…”

Speaker: Erika Epstein ArchitectCourse Description: BIM is a process which includes how you use ArchiCAD and ancillary programs for successful data extraction and exchange.

In this session we will look at:

What BIM does for your firm and how to better leverage it for success

Embedding data in your Archicad template as part of your BIM process

Working with other disciplines in a myriad of formats

IFC import/export; why,when and how to use it

COBie

Ecodesigner, MEP and other Graphisoft tools

Code compliance using programs such as Solibri and customization of library parts

The Masters of ArchiCAD Summit will deliver valuable insights and inspiration you will take back to your office.

100% MONEY BACK GUARANTEE

These sessions are guaranteed to give you powerful ArchiCAD insights. If you attend the Summit (or watch the recordings) and you don’t have business insights worth far more than what you paid and the time you spent watching the courses, just let me know….I’ll personally refund your money, no questions asked.

Eric Bobrow
Founder and Producer, MASTERS of ArchiCAD SUMMIT

Frequently Asked Questions

We've compiled some of the most common questions about the MASTERS of Archicad SUMMIT and how it works. However, if your question is not answered below please send an email to support@bobrow.com

Is the Summit "LIVE" or "recorded"?

It’s both. From 9 am to 6 pm PST (California time) on both Thursday February 5 and Friday February 6, we’ll broadcast live through GoToWebinar and you’ll be able to tune in, watch and listen, and ask questions.

The sessions will also be recorded and available for permanent reference through this website. Access to the videos will be given to everyone who registers for the Summit.

What if I can't stay for the entire conference?

All sessions will be recorded and made available to registrants through this website. You’ll be able to watch them at your convenience.

Can I ask questions during the session? Can I get in touch with presenters afterwards?

You may ask questions by typing into the chat window during the broadcast. As time allows, we’ll address questions from the audience; any questions that aren’t answered will be reviewed afterwards and may get a response by email.

You’ll get contact information for the presenters and may follow up with them if you wish.

Is this an official Graphisoft event?

This online conference is an independent educational event, created and produced by veteran ArchiCAD user and former reseller Eric Bobrow in conjunction with the ArchiCAD users who are featured in the program. All of us are extremely grateful to Graphisoft for the wonderful software that they develop and support. For more information or to purchase ArchiCAD, please visit the Graphisoft website.

How long are these presentations?

Each presenter will give a one hour talk and demonstration. We’ll have a few minutes at the beginning for introductions and a quick chat, and a few minutes at the end for questions from attendees.

Sessions will be scheduled 90 minutes apart, so we’ll have a few minutes clear for breaks and to set up the next speaker.

Only some talks look interesting to me - is it OK if I watch only the ones that I like?

Absolutely! Pick and choose the ones that seem most relevant to your practice. Some may become more interesting to you later – and you’ll be able to watch the recordings at that point if you wish.

This will be a permanent resource, a “reference library” of ideas and practical inspiration that you may want to review from time to time.

Is anything going to be sold? I want to learn, not be given a pitch.

All presenters will focus on sharing ideas, examples and practical tools and methods. Our aim is to educate and inspire, not to sell you on anything. After all, you already have ArchiCAD!

Some presenters may have something to offer that will take you deeper along your path towards mastery.

About the Masters Of ArchiCAD Summit

The MASTERS of ArchiCAD SUMMIT is an educational conference created by veteran ArchiCAD user and trainer Eric Bobrow along with the experts named in the Summit Program. It is independent of Graphisoft, allowing us to focus entirely on inspiring, training and educating ArchiCAD users.

Eric Bobrow has worked with ArchiCAD for 25 years as a trainer and consultant. His firm Bobrow Consulting Group (BCG) was U.S. Reseller of the Year in 2000, ranked in the top 5 for 10 years, and was awarded Graphisoft Platinum VAR status during a successful 20 year run, before switching gears to focus on training and consulting in 2010.

His ArchiCAD Tutorials channel on YouTube has over 11,000 subscribers and reached a ground-breaking 1.7 million views. It is by far the most popular ArchiCAD video resource outside of Graphisoft itself.

Bobrow created and continues to develop and maintain the Best Practices Course, a comprehensive online training resource for ArchiCAD users, as well as the QuickStart Course on ArchiCAD Basics.

MasterTemplate, the Office Standard for ArchiCAD, is the most widely-used independent template system for the software, embedding best practices principles into the structure of the project files to increase efficiency, optimize productivity, and improve consistency and graphic quality.

Bobrow is the founder and producer of the MASTERS of ArchiCAD SUMMIT as well as the ARCHICAD USER website, a news portal which includes a user directory and jobs board.